World Series could extend into November for 4th straight year but could start 3 days early

NEW YORK (AP) — The World Series could extend into November for the fourth straight year but could start three days early if the League Championship Series both end by Oct. 19.

AL Division Series will have an extra scheduled off day between Games 1 and 2, a format that allows a team to have the same pitchers start Games 1 and 4, and Games 2 and 5 on normal four days’ rest. Last year, NL Division Series had the extra off day.

Major League Baseball said Thursday the start of the World Series would move up from Oct. 25 to Oct. 22 if the LCS end by Oct. 19, when both leagues are scheduled to be through Game 5. That would eliminate the possibility of an extended layoffs such as in 2022, when Houston and Philadelphia had four days off.

Under the current schedule, Game 7 of the World Series would be on Nov. 2. The Series went into November for the first time in 2001, when the 9/11 terrorist attacks caused the regular season to end a week later than originally scheduled. The latest a Series game has been played was Nov. 5, when Houston beat Philadelphia in Game 6 in 2022.

The World Series is scheduled to start on a Friday for the fourth straight year. Before 2022, theSeries had not started on a Friday since 1915.

All four best-of-three Wild Card Series are scheduled for consecutive days from Oct. 1-3.

Twelve teams make the playoffs under the format that began in 2022. The top two teams in each league get first-round byes, while the No. 3 seed faces No. 6 and No. 4 plays No. 5. The higher seed will be home in each best-of-three series.

In the best-of-five Division Series, the top seed plays the 3-vs.-6 winner and the No. 2 seed plays the 4-vs.-5 winner. The Division Series will have the familiar format of the higher seed home for Games 1 and 2, and, if necessary, Game 5.

AL Division Series start on Oct. 5, have an off day followed by a game on Oct. 7, then switch to the other cities on Oct. 9-10. After another travel day, Game 5s would be played Oct. 12.

NL Division Series also will start Oct. 5-6 followed by travel day and switch to the other sites for games on Oct. 8-9. Game 5s would be Oct. 11.

The NL Championship Series starts Oct. 13 and the AL Championship Series the following day, with off days after Game 2s and Game 5s.